Outreach Activities

STARTALK Arabic Language Teacher Training Program: July 21-August 8, 2008

Teacher training workshop in Chicago. March 20 - 21, 2008

On March 20-21st, Dr. Wafa Hassan held a teacher training workshop for three teachers of Arabic in three public schools in Chicago. The main goal of this workshop was to help teachers start developing their own curriculum based on he IL standards and the National Arabic Learning Standards

ALIF outreach at Detroit Area Reception. March 1, 2008

On Saturday, March 1, 2008, the MSU's Office of Admissions and the MSU Detroit Outreach Admissions Office hosted a Detroit Area Admitted Student Reception at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, MI. Over 350 people (students and family members) from Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties attended this event.

Dr. Wafa Hassan also attended this event to welcome the incoming students and to answer any questions that they may have about the MSU ALIF program. Many students showed interest in the program and asked for more information.

STARTALK program enriches classroom libraries with new Arabic books. February 9, 2008

Dr. Wafa Hassan conducted a teacher workshop on February 9, 2008 as part of the STARTALK language program for a number of Arabic language teachers in Michigan and other bordering states. The STARTALK program provided these teachers with the Scholastic Arabic library, grades one through six, with the objective of helping teachers start an Arabic library in their classrooms.

The workshop activities provided teachers with strategies and ideas on how to build their Arabic language classroom libraries and how to use the library books to enhance their Arabic language curriculum.

Dr. Hassan is hopeful that through these STARTALK program activities teachers will be able to integrate thematic units into Arabic language teaching, to develop an interactive approach to language pedagogy, and to teach different language skills in a holistic, meaningful manner that will lead to long-term retention and to successful Arabic language learning.

Furthermore, the students in the Arabic language classrooms will have access to a full library of Arabic books, which will increase their interest in reading more materials in Arabic and which will eventually lead to increased proficiency in the Arabic language.

An additional goal of this program is to build a network of teachers who can form an on-line professional development group where they can share their lesson plans and give each other feedback.